Commercars : Stand 43.
Page 16
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Undoubtedly the exhibit which will attract most attention both from the spectacular and mechanical point of view is the latest example of the Commercar fire-engine construction. This is a huge machine which has a 128 h.p. sixcylinder engine, of which the bore is 166 mm. by 190 mm. respectively. This big engine drives direct to the Mather and Platt turbine pump which is mounted directly at the rear of the long chassis. The only transmission to the road wheels is by means of the well-known special form of Coinmercer gearboxes, so that, while the drive to the road wheels is indirect in this way, that to the pump is direct. In order the better to accommodate the pump installation, the frame is dipped towards the rear_ The engine is equipped with two Claudel-Hobson earbu
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raters, and it is capable of propelling the machine fully loaded at top speeds up to 50 m.p.h. This fine engine is for export to Canada. One other feature with regard to it is worthy of special note, and that is there is a shunt from the main-pumped water through the engine-cooled system, and addi
tionally through the lubricating oil tank.
Another interesting exhibit on this stand is the tip-wagon. This is sold for service in Toronto and is of a type which has found considerable favour with many municipalities in Great Britain. It is fitted with a telescopic worm-gear which is driven by means of a special clutch through the worm and chain set from an extension in the gearbox. The all-metal body has a capacity of 6 cubic yards or a net load of six tons. The gearbox, which is of the special Cone mercer type, is .devised for five speeds ; the engine is of 40 h.p. Further interesting exhibits on thit stand are now mentioned, Another fine example of fire-en gins construction for the Barnes Urban District Council. This is shown in full fire-brigade panoply and carries an escape. There is also one of the subsidized Commercar models for Lever Bros., the soap makers. A very fine example of box-van construction is for Taylor's, of Southgate Lane, and this is particularly noticeable. The standard four-cylinder Cornrnereav ehar-h-banes, and a grey finished torpedo char-h-bancs which is quite representative of this class of transport vehicle is also shown.
The separate gearbox and the Southey paraffin producer deserve close examination here.